[deleted]
Why Startup Hubs Work
31–40 of 98 posts
Re: Why Startup Hubs Work
#32Paul (or anyone else), in note 3 you say "Starting a company is common, but starting a startup is rare. I've talked about the distinction between the two elsewhere..." I'd appreciate any links to the places you've mentioned this.
One of the best descriptions: http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25/whats-a-startup-first-princ...
"...a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model."
Re: Why Startup Hubs Work
#33An interesting question is why 'physical' hubs work and why all those elements can't be captured yet online? One key element to debate is randomness - pg does a good job I think in describing the value of randomness in terms of random meetings, shower thoughts - etc - There are many other examples of this process at work - e.g., in management/strategy: http://www.management.wharton.upenn.edu/siggelkow/pdfs/SOart... I…
Even physical micro-hubs like coworking spaces where I live in Phoenix do not capture the serendipity of interaction that Silicon Valley provides.
Here you have to consciously decide to go where other startups are at. In Silicon Valley I just get a cup of coffee and there's a conversation at the table next to me about startups.
Although, I have to say Twitter enabled more fluid communication in the startup scene here. Enough to where I have been able to spot a couple people not at the typical hotspots.
Re: Why Startup Hubs Work
#34"willingness to help people out" would seem to suggest NYC, LA, and DC will be forever handicapped. NYC seems to be overcoming this through bei great in other ways, but LA/entertainment culture seems the antithesis of startup culture, although both constantly create new things from ideas. This all makes thhe demise of Boston even more stark and sad. It had every advantage except weather!
I'm curious why you think startup culture in NYC necessarily reflects broader stereotypes of NYC as a whole. Everyone here is very helpful.
That is a good point. My only experience with NYC is with VCs there, and non startup companies there. The moved from NYC startups I have talked to were all very helpful on e they were in sf, so maybe that happened there, vs. here.
Re: Why Startup Hubs Work
#35Another reason and a big reason seems to be past success, you need people with capital to invest. Once an area gets a couple large companies to cash out not only do those people tend to invest or start companies in similar industries but people around them see their success and want in on the action. If Groupon has a successful IPO and enough employees cash out Chicago could very well become the next large hub. This is the reason why you need a physical hub, but I think AngelList might be removing that hurdle.
On the same note, the investors, lawyers, and employees in startup hubs have 'standard terms' where as in other parts of the country the terms get extremely complicated with things such as tranches. They understand what it takes to succeed since they've usually done it before and are there to guide the company.
Re: Why Startup Hubs Work
#36> In most places, if you start a startup, people treat you as if you're unemployed.
This is why I think for places like NYC, London, etc (i.e. any financial capital) it will become increasingly difficult to create a startup culture. Being unemployed in those cities is NOT cool.
Re: Why Startup Hubs Work
#37This is a good piece, but, this is well-trodden ground. This is "economies of agglomeration", and it's basic urban economics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economies_of_agglomeration
Another good article is Porter's "Clusters and the New Economics of Competition":
Re: Why Startup Hubs Work
#38That's what Taleb explained for his living in NYC: it buys him the option of a Postitive Black Swan to meet great people ("antidotes"?): This makes living in big cities [hubs] invaluable because you increase the odds of serendipitous exposure _ you gain exposure to the envelop of serendipity. p209, The Black Swan, 2007. /Taking maximum exposure to the positive Black Swan p207, Seize any opportunity, or anything that looks like an opportunity. They are rare, or much rarer than you think. Remember that Positive Black Swans have a necessary 1st step: you need to be exposed to them p208
Re: Why Startup Hubs Work
#39[deleted]
Re: Why Startup Hubs Work
#40[deleted]